Most phone cameras don't have shutters for the simple reason that there isn't any room. Instead of relying on a traditional shutter exposure system, the tiny sensors simply activate for short periods of time, "scanning" a scene and returning a passable, if often blurry, image. That's fine for certain uses, but makes capturing moving objects or shooting in low light nigh-on impossible.

In an effort to sidestep these concerns altogether, Samsung is developing a micro-shutter, built with 36 pieces of curled film that can be opened or close by applying or withdrawing an electrical charge. The concept is just 2.2mm wide and easily compact enough for use in cellphones.

Samsung doesn't mention when (or even if) it will commercialize this tech, but for the sake of our poor eyeballs, please, guys, make it soon. [Tech-on]

The lenses provide a 6x zoom range, which to make a comparison in the optimistic spirit of this project, is roughly equivalent to a 220mm lens on a 35mm camera. Neat! But it's still a BlackBerry cellphone camera. The lens is affixed to your handset with a special back cover, and will only set you back $17. [BerryReview via Ubergizmo]